And then I get the wakeup call I needed.
****
Two middle aged men dressed smartly in suits stalk purposely through the precinct and I freeze, my face draining of color so quickly that Sam takes a couple more steps before he even realizes I've turned into a terrified statue.
They don't see me. Not yet. But I can't close my eyes, can't count, can't do a single damn thing besides stand here and wait for whatever will come.
"What's wrong, baby girl?" Sam's worried voice barely registers. I can't imagine what I must look like right now, but I can't tell him I'm okay, I can't lie. I can't even look at him, because right then the men's gazes fall upon me and I can't even breathe.
"Aurora!" my father calls from across the room. Beside him, Mayor Forbes remains silent, but his hostile glare holds me in place.
They approach me together, and instinctively I unfreeze and take several unconscious steps back. Sam steps in front of me like a shield, but still, I can't tear my gaze from my father's.
"Aurora, what iswrongwith you? You need to come with me right now and take back your ridiculous story! Haven't you put the poor boy through enough?" he accuses, ignoring Sam.
I've putRobinthrough enough?
I swallow anxiously, but the knot in my throat prevents me from forming words of any kind. Finally, my father's eyes skate away from mine to take in Sam and his protective stance. I'm torn between wanting Sam far away from this confrontation - from wanting to protect both him from my father and myself from this humiliation - and from desperately needing his support. It's all irrelevant though, because I still can't move, can't speak, can't do a single thing except try not to panic.
"Back. Off." Sam is deceptively calm, but his words are firm.
My father scowls. "Who in the hell are you?" he asks Sam as his glare sizes him up, obviously finding him lacking. Of course, he's not Robin.
"I'm Rory's boyfriend, who the hell areyou?" Sam matches my father's tone, though I suspect he knows exactly who he's speaking to.
Still, Mayor Forbes speaks only with his eyes, but they speak volumes, and it is impossible not to feel every bit of his contempt.
"I'mAurora'sfather." My father says this as if it's some trump card. As if this gives him some all-powerful claim over me. I can't see Sam's face since he is positioned in front of me, but I see his entire body tense and I can feel his revulsion for the man before him.
"I see," Sam replies. "And I suppose you're here to help Rory's rapist get away with trying to do it again? That's what you do, isn't it?"
I gasp, shocked that Sam has the nerve to say such a thing. It is the first time anyone has called my father out so blatantly.
"Howdareyou? You have no idea what you're talkin' about, boy!" My father takes a deep breath as if to calm himself, and then looks Sam over curiously. "Look, son, I understand. My daughter is beautiful, and she sure has a way of gettin' to boys. But she has serious issues. Do you have any idea what she did to the last boy that fell for her? Don't fall for her lies, you'll be her next victim," he warns.
"Rory is the onlyvictimhere, and you're the one falling for lies. Howcouldyou? You're herfather! You're supposed to protect her!"
"Son-"
"I. Am. Not. Your. Son."
Mayor Forbes bristles uncomfortably. "I don't have time for this. I'm goin' to find the lead detective," he murmurs to my father who nods without taking his eyes off Sam. Mayor Forbes walks away, presumably to find Mora and work his magic, and I know it's only a matter of time before Robin is released and I'm the one being accused of God only knows what.
"You're makin' a big mistake," my dad warns Sam before returning his attention to me. "Aurora, you need to come with me right now and tell them Robin didn't assault you. You never understand the implications of your stories." He makes to go around Sam and reaches out to take my forearm so I can do as he says.
But before I can even react, Sam shoves at my father's chest so he stumbles back, away from me, but my father steps forward again, red-faced with fury.
"You have three seconds to get the hell outta my way,son!" My father threatens, poking Sam in his chest.
"I am not your fuckingson, andRoryisn't yours either, andyouhave three seconds to back.The fuck. Off!" Sam growls back, and all I can do is look on in horror as Sam swats my father’s hand away from his chest, my father lifts his hand as if to strike, but not before Sam's fist decks him in the jaw at full force.
My father's head swings sideways and he wobbles for a split second before he becomes enraged all over again and grabs Sam by the shirt. I choke on my own breath and back away in horror until I feel the wall behind me, halting my escape. I am trapped in a nightmare, watching Sam relive the worst experiences of his life - being struck and abused - only this time not by his father, but by my own.
But Sam is no little boy, and he wrenches free, pushing my father away, before Sam, obviously the stronger of the two, throws another forceful punch. The two grapple for what feels like forever before officers swarm them and pull them apart.
I can't breathe. My chest tightens dangerously, a cold sweat blanketing my skin, and I know it's only a matter of time. I hastily shove my hand into my bag, luckily finding my pills immediately, and I swallow one dry.
Numb. I need to feel numb.
